Back-to-School Countdown
Tips to Prepare Kids for the Big Day
By: Leigh Felesky
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“Will my teacher be nice? Where will I sit? Will the other kids like me?” Many kids get nervous about heading back to school. “A big part of a successful first week is establishing a routine and explaining where the bathroom is, what happens when you go to gym class and when to expect recess,” explains Cathy Dunne, a seventh grade teacher in the Toronto area. With a little preparation, parents can help. Here’s how to make your child’s transition a smooth one.
Remember Routines. Family routines tend to slide in the summer—after all, what’s summer without crazy bedtimes, a popsicle habit, and wearing swimsuits for days on end?—and it can be hard to readjust come fall, notes Patricia Tanner Nelson, Family and Human Development Specialist at the University of Delaware. “Well before school starts, focus on choosing sleep, exercise, healthy foods, and time together,” she says. Rosanna Scott, a mom of two from Ohio, agrees. “Practice school bedtimes a week before school starts so that the new routine is established,” she says.
Get Ready! Don’t underestimate the fun and importance of new stuff for the big day. With younger kids, a bag full of school supplies, a new backpack and a few new items of clothing tend to gear them up without any further encouragement, says Amanda Formaro, mother of four in Nevada. For an older child, this may be the time to give the thumbs-up to that must-have trend item, especially if he’s earned some money over the summer to pay for it. For ideas, find out what’s hot this year and get a printable supply list.
Another way to get everyone prepared is to plan a fun family outing on Labor Day weekend, suggests Scott, who home schools her two boys. “We often plan an event to celebrate the end of summer and welcome the new school season.” For some fun ideas, check out our Back to school party.
Show Them the Way. If she’s new to the school, show your child her classroom, what entrance and exit to use and where the bathroom is located. If she’s taking the bus, visit the bus stop location and explain how to get on and off, especially if it’s the first time. Show her the drop off and pick up spot at school, too—if you’re not sure where it will be, call the school ahead of time to find out.
Some schools will allow you to take a tour during the summer and arrange to meet the teacher. Third grade Alberta teacher Fay Chomik suggests encouraging a sense of ownership on the tour: “This is your school, your gymnasium, your lunch room...”
Prepare the Teacher. Let your child’s teacher know about any specifics about behaviour or health, such as a bladder infection. “You don’t want a child to have a bad experience because he’s asking to go to the bathroom every half hour and the teacher says, ‘No,’ thinking he doesn’t need to go so frequently but really he does,” explains Chomik.
Talk, Talk, Talk. “I try to think of all the positive things that they like about school and I talk about them as much as possible,” says Formaro. “I ask about friends they haven’t seen over the summer. I also look at my kids and note anything different that their friends will notice, such as a new hairstyle or if they’ve grown over the summer. I never mention homework or teachers they weren’t crazy about.”
Tanner Nelson notes that learning doesn’t stop when school does, so you need to convey, in a low-key way, how important learning is to you. “Be a role model throughout the year, not just during school time. For example, show how much you like reading, or talk about math and measuring when you’re making a recipe together.”
Chomik also suggests reading your kids school stories to get them ready for what to expect. Find reviewed book suggestions in Back to school books. And for the younger kids, it’s a good idea to explain the role of the teacher to your child. “Encourage the child to speak up and let the teacher know if they’re having problems. This is especially important if a child is getting bullied, which can happen even on the first day. They need to know they can, and should, talk to the teacher.”
Be Organized. Ease back-to-school anxiety by being prepared. Help your child to lay out her clothes and pack her backpack the night before. Be sure to include a healthy lunch and a snack that your child can open and eat on his own. For ideas, go to our best bagged lunches guide.
Take It Easy. Preparation is great—but don’t go overboard. “You can make back-to-school too big a deal!” laughs Tanner Nelson. If September was a hard month for you as a kid, it might not necessarily be the same for your child, and vice versa. You’re the best judge of when your child needs reassurance, and how to go about giving it. “In the end, remember that it’s normal to feel a little nervous or fluttery about that first week back. Everyone, including the teachers, feels like that,” she says.
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